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Gift Ideas for a Golden Anniversary

By Occasion, Gifts For Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for those who have everything, Personalized Gifts Comments Off

May 292011

Reaching a golden anniversary in a relationship means that a couple’s marriage has lasted for 50 years – making it a truly special milestone to celebrate. As the name suggests, gold plays an important role in gift giving for this life achievement, as it is a traditional and contemporary color and material. Gold is associated with optimism and wealth. It is certainly an eye-catching metal, and is also strong and resistant to corrosion. When choosing a gift for a golden anniversary, consider the following suggestions:

Golden Rings

There are many different ways to choose an anniversary gift that incorporates golden rings. Perhaps you could choose an alluring pair of gold napkin rings, matching gold rings with one another’s birthstone, gold hoop earrings for the lady, or matching gold ring necklace pendants.

Golden Topaz Jewelry

If you’d like to choose a golden-colored gemstone to dazzle your dear, consider the golden topaz, which is used in meditation circles for its calming and energizing properties. Consider a pair of dangling earrings or a customized ring.

Gold Trimmed Gifts

For the couple that enjoys entertaining guests or the finer things in life, choose a gift that allows a golden anniversary couple to decorate their dinner table using china and/or crystal with a gold trim. If they take pleasure in the occasional bubbly beverage, gold-rimmed champagne glasses make another delightful gift idea.

A Bouquet of Violets

The flower associated with a 50th anniversary is the violet. Therefore, gifting a bouquet is a nice way to say ‘I love you.’ You may also incorporate the bloom into other golden anniversary gestures, such as a violet-colored silk scarf, homemade dinner with violets at the center of the table, a collection of violet-scented candles, or a perfume with a flowery scent.

Embroidered Item

A popular gift idea for golden anniversary couples is to commemorate their lifelong love with a personalized present. Use the name, date of marriage, and other sentimental details to create a unique gift. For example, PersonalizationMall.com offers the snuggle-inducing Our Golden Anniversary Wedding Bells Afghan – made from 100% cotton and using gold thread to highlight significant information.

A Tree

Plant a tree in honor of your 50 years together and decorate with golden ribbons.

Golden Photo Album or Scrapbook

Fifty years together produces a never-ending wealth of memories. Choose a golden photo album for the assemblage of photos and other details of a marriage. Add wedding announcements, movie ticket stubs, play bills, vacation snapshots, birthday cards, handwritten notes, and newspaper clippings to create an unforgettable remembrance.

How to Find the Right Gift for the Person Who Has Everything

By Occasion, By Recipient, Gifts for those who have everything, How To, Personalized Gifts, Today's Cool Gift Idea Comments Off

Aug 072010

Gifts for the Person Who Has Everything (Photo Courtesy of PHPhoto2010)

We all have them in our lives– the person that has everything. And any time a holiday, birthday or special occasion comes around finding the perfect present becomes more difficult than an expert-level Sudoku puzzle. These days, more people seem to have disposable income. That means if they want something, they buy it for themselves which creates a tough situation for gift-givers. Here are a few tips for finding the right gift for the person who already has everything.

Add to a Collection

Does the person collect antique knives or Chuck Norris memorabilia? Then simply add to their collection. Usually when a person loves something enough to collect it, they’ll appreciate any gift that enhances their collection. The only thing that could be tough about this gift is that it may get expensive depending on what they’re collecting.

Go Charitable

If the person already has everything, make a donation in their name. Better yet, let them pick the charity with a gift card from JustGive.org. You pick the amount and the design of the ecard. Then the recipient chooses which charity to give the donation to, making them an important part of the gift giving process.

Try Food

Just about everyone loves food. And even if a person already has everything, they still need food! Pick out a food gift with a story like the Mortgage Apple Cake at BakeMeaWish.com. Angela Logan originally sold the cakes to help pay her mortgage. Or give the gift that keeps giving with a food-of-the-month club like the one offered by Bangerang Bake Shop. Your loved one will get one delicious cupcake a month for six months.

Give an Experience

No matter how much stuff a person has, they can always use a fresh life experience. So instead of giving them a new shirt or a book, give them an unforgettable experience. Use a website like Cloud9Living.com to select an experience that will fit any budget or location. If the person is less adventurous, choose something like a massage or a round of golf. If they love a good adrenaline rush, give them the chance to bungee jump or try out a trapeze. It’s definitely a gift they’ll remember.

How to Make a Flower Out of Fabric

By Occasion, By Recipient, DIY Cool Gift Ideas, Gifts For Her, Gifts for those who have everything, How To Comments Off

Jul 222010

A T-Shirt Flower Pillow

These days everyone is looking for ways to be more eco-friendly– even when it comes to giving gifts. This simple project is definitely green, but it’s also easy. We’ll show you how to turn an old t-shirt or leftover fabric scraps into a cute flower with just a few simple steps. All you need is an old t-shirt, a pair of scissors, a needle and thread, and a few minutes.

Use the flower to create a barrette, pin or attach it to a drab pillow for a unique creation. Whatever you choose to design, you’ll end up with a great, affordable handmade gift that any of your loved ones will appreciate– especially since they won’t be able to find another one like it in any store.

Step One

Step One: Cut out simple flower shapes of various sizes in an old t-shirt. Depending on whether you plan to use your flower to jazz up a pillow or to create a hair clip, your flower sizes will need to be adjusted. Create four different sizes. You will only need one flower in the largest size. Cut our four of each of the other three sizes. In all, you should have 13 flowers cut out.

Step Two: Lay the biggest flower on a flat surface. Take the next smallest size of flower and fold each one in half. Then fold them in half again. Position the four flowers so that the points meet in the

Steps two, three and four

center of the largest flower. Using a coordinating thread, simply hand stitch each section at the point, attaching these four pieces of fabric to the largest flower.

Step Three: Repeat step two with four more folded flowers in the next smallest size.

Step Four: Once again, repeat the stitching process one last time with the smallest flowers.

Step Five: How you finish your flower is up to you. You can stitch on a pin or barrette to the back, or you can attach it to a pillow like this one. Whatever you decide to create, it will be a low-cost, green gift that someone is sure to love.

Photos courtesy of Michelle Suarez

DIY Christmas Gift: How to Make a Cake Plate

DIY Cool Gift Ideas, How To, Today's Cool Gift Idea Comments Off

Nov 052009

Everyone is looking for ways to cut costs these days– especially now that the holidays are approaching. One way to save money on your gift-giving budget is by making some gifts yourself. Here is an easy DIY Christmas gift that would be perfect for a neighbor, mother-in-law, or friend. Using some thrift store finds you can create a one-of-a-kind Christmas gift that your friends will love.

Supplies:

Plate

Small vase or candlestick

Silicone Adhesive
Step One: Head to the Thrift Store

Head to your local thrift store for a unique plate and base that will make up your cake plate. The plate can be just about any size, shape or color. Think about the person you are giving it to and what colors and style they might like best. Look through the selection of small glasses, candlesticks and vases for a base that will work with the plate you’ve selected. At most thrift stores these pieces will cost you less than a dollar each.

Step Two: Buy Adhesive

Head to your local hardware store and pick up some silicone adhesive. This is typically used in bathrooms or kitchens to make a waterproof seal between tiles or pipes. Clear is probably the best color choice so it won’t be noticed. Choose a brand that dries in a few hours. This will probably cost about $3 or $4 and will be more than enough to finish your project.

Step Three: Wash Your Pieces

Wash your cake plate and stand. Make sure they are clean and dust-free. This will insure that the adhesive works like it should.

Step Four: Measure and Apply

Measure the center of the bottom of your plate. It’s important that your base is secured in the center so that your cake plate won’t tip over. Apply the adhesive to the side of your base that you are securing to the underside of the plate. Push the two together to remove any air pockets. Apply more adhesive around the outside edge of the base for added strength.

Step Five: Allow to Dry

Give your cake plate a few hours to dry, according to the directions of the silicone adhesive you purchased.

Step Six: Wrap and Give

Wrap up your unique cake plate and present it to the lucky person in your life. They’ll love this new addition to their kitchen and you’ll love that this one-of-a-kind Christmas gift cost less than $5 to make.

Images courtesy of Alison Storm

How to Find Affordable Art to Give as Gifts

How To 2 Responses »

Oct 092009

Affordable Art Makes Great Gifts (Image courtesy of Marshall Astor)

Art is wonderful. It brightens our homes. Art broadens our world. And it gives us something lovely to look at. But often finding art that is affordable can be a big challenge. Many one-of-a-kind pieces cost hundreds– even thousands of dollars which doesn’t fit into gift budgets very well. But there are ways to find affordable art to give as gifts. Here are a few places to look.

Etsy

Etsy is a marketplace where artists can sell their work. Thousands of people have Etsy shops with unique items to sell and most is very affordable. Pick up signed digital prints for less than $10 like this one from artist Sarah Knight. Or for wearable art, check out this Paris Map necklace made from a scrabble tile and paper. It’s only $6.95.

6×6 Gallery

Sometimes smaller is better. At 6x6gallery.com all of the art is made on six inch squares. That means you can pick up original art starting at just $35. If you happen to be in New York, check out the Six by Six Gallery on East 13th Street. Otherwise, order up your affordable art online.

Local Shops

Head to some local art shops and galleries. Many artists will have prints of their original works to sell that are far more affordable. You can either buy the print framed or unframed. For an even more affordable way to give art as gifts only purchase the print and head to a thrift store to look for a low-cost frame. It’s a great way to support local artists in your community without spending a whole lot of money.

Postcards and Note Cards

Some artists even choose to turn their works of art into postcards or note cards. Pick up a pack of these and find a small matted frame at a craft store. Better yet– buy several different note card designs from the same artist and frame three of them to create a nice grouping of framed art to give as a gift.

Make your own Coffee Table Book!

Gifts For Her, Gifts for those who have everything, Personalized Gifts, Today's Cool Gift Idea Comments Off

Jul 192009

There is nothing more personal then your family photos and memories captured.Â Why not make them into a special gift for the whole family to enjoy and remember those special moments?Â You can by creating a coffee table or photo book with your own photos!Â By going to Picaboo you can create any photo book using your own digital photos.Â This makes great gifts for recent Grads, family vacations, and newborns. No need for scissors & glue, and stop spending hours uploading your photos to an online photofinishing site.Â This is the new way of album making.

Push the button

Simply click the “Create Book” button, and then choose from over 15 stunning themes or start from scratch.

If you select Auto-Create, Picaboo will automatically populate your book in seconds with the photos you choose.

StoryFlow

StoryFlow is a whole new way to create photo books, making it easier, faster, and more fun. With StoryFlow, you group your photos onto pages before your book is created and then StoryFlow auto-creates a perfectly conceived book based on the theme you’ve selected.

Simply drag-and-drop your photos until they are grouped onto the pages in the order you want them. Once your book has been created, you have complete control to edit your book as you wish.

Custom covers

Customize the front, back, and spine of your book’s cover. Simply drag-and-drop your photos, add a title and you’re done.

Fully customizable with any Picaboo page background and layout, custom covers are case-bound on striking glossy laminate board.

What’s your background?

You can customize each page of your book with unique backgrounds. Select from hundreds of pre-loaded designs, choose from thousands of images from a free Background Community, or simply drag-and-drop any photo onto your page.

Layouts galore

With a wide variety of over 240 layouts, making each page of your book truly unique is as easy as a single click.

Whether you’re creating a baby album, travel journal, portfolio, or even a family cookbook, you’ll find the layout that works just right.

Fabulous fonts and corners

Say it like you mean it with over 40 unique fonts. Whether you’re adding a caption, telling a story, or journaling your memories, you’ll find the font that fits.

Frame your photos with a selection of over 50 corners and add the perfect finishing touch to your pages.

Photo tools

With Picaboo, it’s slider simple to crop, rotate, adjust brightness & contrast, remove red eye, and add/remove white borders and shadows.

Best of all, see the changes to your photos in real-time right on the page of your book.

Check it out!

Check out Picaboo for inspiring ideas, samples, tips, and more.

Make a Wish(list) Before Blowing Out The Candles!

By Occasion, Gifts for those who have everything 1 Response »

Jun 012009

Say goodbye to those same sweaters, pjâ€™s and inevitable socks you always winds up getting for your birthday, and say hello to what you really want with Wishpot.com! The new social shopping site takes the guessing out of gifting, allowing users to create, save and share wish lists built from their favorite items found anywhere on the world wide web. What does this mean for the birthday girl or boy? They can let their family and friends know exactly what theyâ€™re wishing for, all with the simple click of a mouse! Â What does this mean for you? You look as sweet as birthday cake giving the perfect gift.
Â
How exactly does Wishpot work? Itâ€™s as easy as 1, 2, 3. Â 1 â€“ sign up. Â 2 â€“ download the Wishpot button to your toolbar. Â 3 â€“ go shopping! Â The Wishpot button allows users to add items found from not just 1 site, but from anywhere on the net. Â As any smart shopper would agree, why limit yourself to one store when you can have them all? Â While browsing your favorite sites, simply drag and drop items you like into the Wishpot button on your toolbar. Â The items will be automatically added to your list, resulting in a centralized, one-stop-shop location for all of your favorite things. Â Set any price comparisons or sale alerts, then send to your family and friends! Â
Â
In addition to wish lists and registries, Wishpot offers users price comparisons, sale alerts, fun & unique gift ideas, and most importantly, the ability to share with others what they wish for. Â Clueless about what to get the birthday girl or boy? Â You donâ€™t have to wait for their wish list â€“ just consult the Wishpot experts! Shopping tips and gift suggestions are updated daily with ideas unique enough for even that hard-to-shop-for person. Â Already know what your BFF is wishing for, but they have expensive taste? Â Let Wishpot conduct a price comparison and find the gift they want at a price that fits within your budget. Â Slacking friends or family? Â Create a wish list for last minute gifters and send a friendly reminder. Â With numerous easy to use and share features, Wishpot is the ideal solution for your birthday needs wishes, and wants!
Â
About Wishpot

Launched in 2007 by co-founders Max Ciccotosto and Tom Lianza, Seattle-based Wishpot is a free social shopping service that makes it easy to save and share interesting things users find from anywhere on the web. Â Once collected, items are stored and organized using simple online lists, which can be kept private or shared with others. Â From wedding and baby to gadgets and indie, any kind of list can be created! Users can collect and discover products they like, recommend their favorite things, share and explore gift suggestions, receive price comparisons and sale alerts, and ask for opinions and advice. Once the Wishpot toolbar is downloaded, items from any online store or website can be saved with the simple click of a button. Â Start shopping, storing, sharing and saving with Wishpot!

Dogeared Jewels and Gifts

Gifts For Her, Gifts for those who have everything, Valentine's Day Gifts, Wedding Gifts 1 Response »

Apr 122009

Photo courtesy of (mint)

Dogeared Jewels and Gifts is a fun jewelry line that is meant to be gifted.Â It hasÂ great packaging with the positive message and meaningÂ printed on the box.Â The range of necklaces, bracelets, and earrings offered is vast and you are sure to find something for everyone.Â Best of all is the price range the jewelry is offered at is affordable, between $20 to $100′s, and is sure to meet anyone’s budget.Â Here are some of jewelry offered by Dogeared Jewels and Gifts which can be found on Amazon.com or Dogeared.com:

KARMA COLLECTION

Karma Bracelet

What goes around, comes around! is the tag line of this karma collection.This popular collection is a great way to remind those to keep things positive because what you give out, will come back!

This 1/2″ sterling silver karma ring is attached to 7″ of tobacco Irish linen with a bead closure. $44

The card message states:

what goes around, comes around… wear your bracelet as a reminder to keep their circle positive, peaceful, and loving

MAKE-A-WISH ORIGINALS

Make-A-Wish Originals

The best known product of Dogeared is the Make-A-Wish necklace.Â The concept of Make-A-Wish is simple.Â The person who receives this necklace makes-a-wish when you put the necklace on, and when the necklace wears off (when the string breaks), the wish is ready to come true.Â Makes a great gift for birthdays, graduations, and Mother’s Day.Â They only thing is you have to make sure the wearer doesn’t try to break the string on purpose to speed things up!

This necklace is on a 16″ purple silk cord with a sterling silver teeny star charm with a spring ring closure.Â $25

The card message states:

make a wish and put on this necklace… when your necklace wears off… your wish should come true… enjoy, trust, believe

Pearls of…

Pearls of... friendship

The pearls of… collection revolves around the concept of the admiration and timelessness of a woman’s pearls.Â Dogeared Jewels and Gifts uses this collection to tie different loving and encouraging messages.Â Available on silk tread, sterling silver and gold filled chains with a variety of messages for beauty, friendship, love, happiness, wisdom, and success.

This necklace is on a 16″ sterling silver fine chain with a white freshwater button pearl with a spring ring closure. $34

The card message states:

from humbles beginnings as a rough grain of sand, the pearl slowly grow into an object of beauty and simplicity. symbolic of honesty, integrity, prosperity and wisdom. pearls represent the best within us. let your necklace be a daily reminder of the beauty and simplicity of our friendship! enjoy and believe!

For more on Dogeared Jewels and Gifts, please visit their website.

chicBuds.com Review and Giveaway – CLOSED

By Occasion, Gifts For Kids, Gifts for those who have everything, Giveaways 99 Responses »

Mar 102009

Take something mundane in your everyday life and make it standout and extraordinary with chicBuds earphones! For use with all music listening devices or anything that takes a 3.5mm Jack, these blinged out earphones make great gifts for the ipod fanatic, teenager, traveler or anyone who wants to be a little different.

chicBuds Earphones

White chicBuds in Watermelon

chicBuds earphones are retractable,Â stylish earphones to use with all your music listening devices. The built-in retractor makes using your devices tangle-free and best of all allows for 5 stopping points so you can adjust the length for your use. For instance, the shortest points works best for an ipod on an armband when working out and the longest points works best when using a portable DVD player or portable game player. Available in white or black earphone, chicBuds come in five flavors of nearly 100 genuine Swarovski crystal pieces on each flavor earphone: Blueberry, Grape, Watermelon, Sour Apple, and Marshmallow.

Practical, stylish, convenient,Â chicBuds earphonesÂ are perfect for working out (no tangled cords, adjustable cord length and fastening clip) and are great for traveling.

Rock Star RockBuds

Men’s Designer Series

Not just for women, chicBuds now offers RockBuds: Earbuds that Rock! These make a great gift for men orÂ anyone who has an inner rock chic in her. Available in 4 designs: Rock Band, Rock Star, Wings Like Eagles, and Green Camo.

Other chicBuds Products

chicBuds offers a wide range of products. The Techie Girl Kit is a retractable USB charge and Sync cable set adorned with Swarovski crystal. Forget bluetooth, and consider PinkTooth, chicBud’s bluetooth compatible wireless headsets adorned with Swarovski Crystals. Visit chicBuds.com for the full range of products available.

Giveaway

chicBuds.com has generously donated a pair of White chicBuds earphones in Watermelon, pictured on top. Continue reading »

Gifts with Sustainable Style (That Won’t Break The Bank)

Gifts For Her, Gifts for those who have everything, Today's Cool Gift Idea 1 Response »

Feb 272009

Earth Day is coming up soon (April 22 to be exact)!Â In honor of Earth Day, I am devoting this post to eco-style. Â Have you noticed the words “sustainable & style” are being used together more and more by fashion editors and media?Â Â Up and coming designers everywhere are premiering their eco-conscience designs; one hot trend is accessories made from recycled materials.Â Recycling materials and transforming them into fashion accessories is a win-win situation. Â As a consumer, you are helping the environment when you support businesses that manufacture clothing and accessories made from recycled materials. How are you helping?Â Many of the materials filling the landfills will remain there for thousands of years.Â Recycling reduces the demand for raw materials; thus preserving our precious natural resources.Â Â It reduces air and water pollution along with energy usage.

The consumer is rewarded by acquiring a quality product that is unique and well made.Â Products made from recycled materials are often handcrafted and manufactured by a fair trade organization that provides a fair wage and favorable working conditions for their workers.Â Celebrities and fashion elite are spotted everywhere donning everything from bags made from recycled juice boxes, plastic bags or rubber tires to earrings made from old mason jars and Clorox bottles. As more and more of us are beginning to follow the green movement, designers are creating fantastic well crafted pieces fashion consumers will enjoy for generations to come.Â And keeping our difficult economic situation in mind, I have found some beautiful pieces for a reasonable price.

Here are some good accessory finds from some of my favorite online retail shops:

prod2097_sm Vy & Elle Bags- Made from PVC Vinyl (Recycled Vinyl Billboards) These colorful bags are chic and durable.Â Thousands of billboards with advertisements made of PVC vinyl go up each day.Â When these billboards are no longer needed, they are discarded into landfills where they create toxic pollution. Upset by this wasteful practice, Nicola Freegard and Robin Janson founded Vy & Elle in 2002 in order to transform this landfill-bound material into durable and vibrant products. The strength of PVC vinyl makes it an ideal material for reuse Continue reading »

Older Entries

Gift Ideas for a Golden Anniversary

How to Find the Right Gift for the Person Who Has Everything

How to Make a Flower Out of Fabric

DIY Christmas Gift: How to Make a Cake Plate

How to Find Affordable Art to Give as Gifts

Make your own Coffee Table Book!

Make a Wish(list) Before Blowing Out The Candles!

Dogeared Jewels and Gifts

KARMA COLLECTION

MAKE-A-WISH ORIGINALS

Pearls of…

chicBuds.com Review and Giveaway – CLOSED

chicBuds Earphones

Men’s Designer Series

Other chicBuds Products

Giveaway

Gifts with Sustainable Style (That Won’t Break The Bank)

Today’s Featured Gift Idea

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